Manti Te’o doesn’t just think T.J. Watt can bounce back from a quiet seven-sack 2025 season. He thinks he can end 2026 holding an NFL record. Wednesday, Te’o made his case.
“History will tell you that when Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy get together, they score a lot of points on offense. History also tells you that when T.J. Watt is lined up out there, T.J. Watt is gonna get a lot of sacks,” Te’o said on Good Morning Football when asked who has the best chance to challenge Myles Garrett’s single-season NFL sack record.
In 2021, Watt tied Michael Strahan for the NFL’s official sack record with 22.5 on his way to winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. In 2025, Garrett broke the mark to stand alone. He finished the year with 23, unable to set the mark against Pittsburgh in Week 17 but taking down Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow late in the season finale. Garrett earned himself DPOY, his second such trophy.
Watt returning to that kind of form would be remarkable. A dozen sacks would feel like an acceptable season. Touching 20-plus is another realm. The record for most sacks by a player 31 years or older like Watt is 19.5 set by the Indianapolis Colts’ Robert Mathis in 2013. The Houston Texans’ top pass rushers, Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, are more logical choices, but Te’o is banking on Watt.
“This guy led the league in sacks three times already…T.J. Watt is gonna give Myles Garrett a run for his money,” Te’o said. “And as far as being the sack leader, I wouldn’t be surprised if all three of those guys are gonna be competing for who can lead the Pittsburgh Steelers in sacks. I got T.J. Watt. I like T.J. Watt a lot.”
“All three of those guys” referring to Nick Herbig, Alex Highsmith, and Watt. Three of the NFL’s top pass rushers. However, that might keep Watt’s sack numbers down. A heavier rotation to ensure all three see the field could reduce Watt’s snap count. A new coaching staff might calculate less is more with Watt, opting to have all three rotate instead of having just Highsmith and Herbig swap out like past years. That would keep Watt fresher and maximize the group but also reduce his sack chances.
For Watt, returning to double-digit sack numbers is bare minimum. Reaching 15 would be excellent. If Watt can come anywhere close to his 2021 figure and Garrett’s new record, it’ll be a home run for Pittsburgh. Te’o’s take is as optimistic as they come.
